Category: Student Events

VIP’s visiting the TV Studio

I was going through some of the many photos that we took in the TV Studio and realised that a great number have never been seen.

Because of the use that STOIC made of the studio, a great number of film and TV stars came to be interviewed. In 1982 Sir David Attenborough visited and is seen here with Lawrence Windley. We very appropriately added some plants into the set! It was also fitting that STOIC had, like the TV Studio had already done in 1980, moved into full colour only the year before. Sir David was controller of BBC2 when he moved the channel into colour in 1967 (this was discussed in the interview).

One of the big hits for STOIC in 1977 was a visit by two people associated with the then “new” film Star Wars, Gary Kurtz was a producer and Mark Hamill the main lead. No one realised what this film was going to start in terms of franchises. He signed my autograph book with “Galactically yours…”
This was also one of the many interviews that were transmitted over the old ILEA cable TV network.

Very fitting in this year of 2026 is Mel Brooks, who visited the studio in 1976. He, like David Attenborough, has just turned 100 this year. So that’s two visitors who are now in their 100th year.
Mel was in the UK to promote his then new film Young Frankenstein. Prior to this I suspect that most people in the UK would have known him for Blazing Saddles….although we didn’t and had to find out who he was (no internet back then of course). In fact none of us knew anyone who’d seen his previous film. Looking back to that time now, it’s rather embarrassing. We now have a lot to thank the internet for.

Even former Prime Ministers graced the studio with their presence, like Sir Edward Heath. Here he is speaking with former STOIC Chairman Mike Prosser. Sir Edward was PM of the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1974. While at Imperial in 1980, to speak at the student’s conservative society STOIC managed to get him to agree to walk along to the studio to be interviewed by the student television for their news programme. I’m not sure whether he had former PM protection officers with him but we certainly did with the next visitor.

Separate from STOIC  and as a part of the opening period for the new University of London fibre optic system, many people were calling in to see this new wonder of communications which linked all of the major colleges in London. In 1987, the Duke of Kent was then President of the Institution of Electronic and Radio Engineers. He was at Imperial for an official visit with various members of the IERE and a special presentation of what became called Live-Net was arranged in the studio. In this photo the Duke is seen with Professor Ernie Freeman who had the task of overseeing the installation of Live-Net at Imperial.

For  the official welcome to the TV Studio, I’m seen here greeting the Duke upon arrival. Later on, after the presentation which is seen in the photograph above, I showed the Duke and other members of the IERE around the equipment that had been installed by British Telecom to facilitate the operation of the Live-Net system. I explained how we might be using the system to connect to other colleges like UCL, Kings or Royal Holloway etc. I also showed them the computer controlled booking system which allowed switching of the network for which a central switch system was installed at Senate House in central London.

The last member of the Royal Family to appear live in the TV Studio was actually HM the Queen. At 3:30am in the morning on Saturday April 1st 2000 HM the Queen made a ‘virtual visit’ to Imperial College TV Studio. Her Majesty appeared on a video conferencing link during the Royal opening of the Centre for Surgical & Medical Skills which is located in Perth at the University of Western Australia. Prof Mervyn Maze from the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital was participating in a multinational effort to validate Medical Simulation as a tool for training, education and performance evaluation. As such, Prof. Maze addressed the Queen on the subject of medical simulation and it’s potential in the world of medicine. If you look closely at the photograph the Queen can be seen on the screen in the top right quadrant wearing both a light blue dress and matching hat.

Other famous visitors (and there were many) included:

Sir Cliff Richard (Singer)

 

Barry Humphries as Dame Edna Everage

 

Jenny Agutter (Actress)

 

Magnus Pike (Scientist and TV Personality)

 

Peter Benchley (who wrote Jaws)

 

Colin Grimshaw July 2026

IC Union Hustings: 1986

40 years ago, on the evening of 6 March 1986, STOIC was live on air at 6pm. It was the evening round-up programme of that day’s coverage of the IC Union Hustings. This was now a traditional yearly event for STOIC dating back to 1975 when Mark Caldwell presented the first live coverage from the Great Hall.

This year, the presenters were Sarah Allsop and Alan Rose, who gave background on how to vote at the end of the programme. As usual, this went out live from the college TV studio in Electrical Engineering. And, because it was live, I’d been asked to direct it, as will be seen in the end credits. I have not included any of the actual coverage from the Great Hall, but rather only the main opening and closing. The live coverage was very long and of poor-quality picture and especially the sound. However, this edit will remind you of how the programme was presented live from the studio; you may have even watched it yourself at the time.

You’ll notice the usual earpieces so that I could give instructions to the two presenters during the live segments (you might even hear some of it on the studio sound!). So let’s look at what you might have watched at the time, way back on 6 March 1986, ahhhh, those lovely archives.

Colin Grimshaw – April 2026

C&G Pedal Car Race: 1982

In February 1982, STOIC’s Mike Hackett ventured into the coldest Prince’s Gardens to discuss pedal cars. It was City and Guilds who were in training for the Bristol Pedal Car Race. Sadly, I can’t find any details of the end result, so we are left not knowing how well C&G did. The photo on the left is from Felix, dated 1980. The very last Felix reference to “pedal cars” was in 1984, so maybe it just disappeared from student life, like lots of traditional Imperial events seem to have. If you know better, please let me know.

Anyway, enjoy this STOIC archive interview with Tim Bell from City and Guilds and watch some rare colour footage of the pedal cars in action.

 

Colin Grimshaw April 2026

Elections for Beginners: 1976

“Elections for Beginners” was shown on STOIC 50 years ago today. It was during STOIC’s live coverage of the ICU elections that this video was seen. James Sinclair was, by then, the chairman of STOIC and also the lead presenter, especially during live transmissions like this one. Apparently, it was James who had asked John Downs (see page 6 of the link to Felix) the ICU Honorary Secretary to present this pre-recorded video that would explain the STV system used by the union.

It is actually a miracle that this videotape even survives. It was inserted into the live programme, which itself was recorded for posterity on the Ampex recorder. Luckily, for some reason, the original Ampex one-inch “Type A” videotape was transferred onto a still usable U-Matic tape. By chance, John Downs subscribes to this blog and recently sent me a lovely Christmas message. I then had a sudden flash of memory of that name linked to STOIC, and fortunately I had the card index that I could refer to. John’s name popped up; at first I had assumed it was indexing a currently inaccessible Ampex tape. However, there was an additional reference to a transfer to the U-Matic format. It was that tape, which I had forgotten I had already digitised some years ago, and hence how we are able to see it today.

John has kindly added some additional insight into that particular year’s elections, as well as the union staff members:

“Perhaps of interest to note that there were only the three sabbatical roles back then—even the Deputy President (Riz Shakir) was a full-time student. We were supported by an admin staff of three… Jen Hardy-Smith and Pat in the first-floor office, and a lady called Pam, I think… who had her own booth at the main entrance to the union building.”

So let’s take you, and John, back 50 years, and please note that the image quality is not great, but I have corrected it as best I can. James Sinclair does the introduction during the live transmission from the Great Hall, which was linked by cable back to the TV studio.

Colin Grimshaw – 26 February 2026

C&G Custard Pies Rag Event: 1980

One of the seemingly forgotten events is the throwing of custard pies (or something similar) as part of Rag Week. Back in October 1980 Mike Hackett from STOIC reported from Portobello Road on what City and Guilds Union were getting up to.

The Felix report (photo above) indicates that £276 was raised from the poor members of the public who were dragged into the spectacle.

What ever happened to these Rag events that made Imperial fun?

Colin Grimshaw – January 2026

STOIC News & What’s On: 1979

This time I have an item that doesn’t really have a story attached to it. I thought it would be interesting to hear the news and what’s-on for a specific time in Imperial’s life. In this snapshot from 3 October 1979 Mark Foley is presenting the item that was within that particular week’s News-Break programme. Only item mentioned of particular interest to STOIC was the cable laying to provide an outlet link to Beit Hall (whatever happened to that link I wonder?).

Colin Grimshaw – Christmas Day 2025

Lord Mayor’s Show: 1979

Back in 2019, I released the video that STOIC had recorded at the 1980 Lord Mayor’s Show. However, that was not the first time it was covered. An earlier report was shot on 8mm colour film in 1971. Now, we are able to see the very first report covered on videotape, dating from 14 November 1979. It was featured, as always, in the weekly news programme News-Break.

The on-location STOIC reporter was Tracy Poole (Tracy Dudley). The picture is not amazing because it was recorded using an early video camera and recording system, but it did at least allow for synced audio. And of course, everything was still in black and white, although the studio had just purchased its first piece of colour equipment.

Colin Grimshaw 14 November 2025

London to Brighton/Sir Hugh Ford: 1986

The videotape card index for STOIC’s coverage of the ‘London to Brighton run’ covers three cards, starting in November 1979. That first date would have been coverage in black and white, but today we have it in colour and on videotape. A previous 1977 run was shot on 8mm colour film, but that was silent. In this 1986 coverage we have an on-location interview with Adrian the driver of Boanerges (Bo). But what is even more interesting is footage of Sir Hugh Ford and also Lady Ford both speaking at the evening dinner event. Please note the incorrect title that STOIC gave to him, he was not a Lord. This is the only recording that we have of him, so this is yet another archive gem. He was President of the Motor Club and here, in his own words (from 2007), are his memories of that time:

“…one of my great moments was that when, having acted as President of the Motor Club for many years, the Club presented to me on the half century of Bo’s service, this delightful and most accurate silver model of our James and Brown. It took three silversmiths to achieve it: the first died on the job, the second gave up because he found it too difficult, and the third became so fascinated with the project that the Club had the greatest difficulty in getting him to surrender it in time for presentation to me at Brighton! I have decided that when I pass on, it shall be left to the City & Guilds Motor Club though, I suggest, for safety reasons, it should be housed elsewhere. Mind you, don’t expect it too soon – there are a few years in me yet!”

Sir Hugh died in May 2010 aged 96, and I’d be interested to hear about that silver model’s whereabouts now.

Colin Grimshaw November 2025

RCS(U) Exec Interview: 1986

There was quite a full studio back in March 1986 when STOIC interviewed the following year’s RCS(U) Executive Committee (seen on the right from Felix dated March 1986). Well, almost all of them as it was minus Judith Hackney on the day. Notable of course is the appearance of Simon Singh who had been voted in as RCS(U) President. Simon has gone on to greater things after leaving Imperial and you can find out more on his own website.

If you wade through the archive of Felix you’ll find loads of references to Simon including some criticism of his role as President. This was in Felix dated December 1986.

“The Royal College of Science Union will be holding an ‘Extraordinary General Meeting’ today. The meeting has been called at the request of more than 50 members of RCSU, who have signed a petition criticising President Simon Singh’s leadership of the Union“

But all of this didn’t stop him from going on to better things after Imperial. So,  if you take the ‘rough with the smooth’ it seems you can come out on top in the end.

Colin Grimshaw September 2025

Freshers’ Fair: 1982

Two years before today’s video was made, STOIC was still operating in black and white. So, it’s a pleasure to release this 1982 video in colour. Lawrence Windley went around Freshers’ Fair and spoke to a few people taking part. And we once again meet Tim Bell from City and Guilds, who appeared in a previous video all about Pedal Cars. Some of the freshers do look a little dazed, I must say. Maybe the afternoon was a little too early for them, or perhaps the cheap beer was kicking in?

Colin Grimshaw April 2025